Review of Neptune's Daughter (1949) by Allan C — 10 Apr 2014

I've recently developed an obsession with the young Ricardo Montalban. He rarely played non-ethnic parts and was largely cast as a native person or a latin lover. This film falls into the later category.

Esther Williams is a bathing-suit designer who falls for polo player, latin lover Montalban. Red Skelton has a funny supporting role as a polo club worker mistaken for polo star Montalban, who then assumes the part to woo William's friend, Betty Garrett.

Mel Blanc is a waiter who does his Speedy Gonzalez voice four years prior to Speedy's first appearance. Keenan Wynn serves as the films narrator, though I'm not sure why the film needed this. The story is fluff, but the stars are all very likable and how can you resist Montalban and Williams sining the original version of the Academy Award winning song "Baby It's Cold Outside.

'' This film continues my obsession with Montalban, even if it was one of his stereotypical parts. Montalban has a commanding screen presence and this film was the first time I'd seen him sing, which made me appreciate him on a whole new level.

This is a must see for Montalban fans, although I suspect there really aren't many out there besides fans of Khan.